Well, there are some Biblical grounds for that idea. In Matthew 25:31-46, the story of the sheep and goats gathered from all the nations of the world, there's a possible implication that explicit recognition of Christ is not required for salvation, but rather sincere action according to Christ's commands of love and mercy for all humanity. And earlier in Matthew 7:15-23 Christ seems to emphasize salvation is based on the fruits of one's actions, and not the claiming of His name (of which He warns that many false prophets will adopt as wolves in sheep's clothing).
Salvation is a free gift given to those who believe Jesus is the son of God and that He died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again on the third day just as He said He would. Jesus says in John 3:1-21 what is needed for salvation, specifically John 3:16. “Good works” come as a byproduct of a life transformed by God’s mercy by salvation through Jesus, but good works without belief in Jesus are “filthy rags” in the sight of God. Man will boast about his good works, but no one can boast about the gift of salvation because it’s offered to everyone who chooses to accept it. Salvation based only on works isn’t true salvation.
I see the theme of identity running through this...
Just a few chapters prior to 25, in Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus states the first and second greatest commandments are "love God" and "love others." Then, here in Matthew 25, he illustrates those two commandments. Those who love God (greatest commandment) are the sheep, and those who do not are the goats.
Likewise, Matthew 7:21 specifies "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." So, not all who claim their identity in Christ, but only the ones who are not wolves in sheep's clothing.
In either of these passages you cite, knowing Jesus is primary.
I’ve taken a much more action and works based approach to faith over the last few years, but it hasn’t been to win salvation or earn it, for I myself am but dirty rags, but at no point is it said that we should not do works or follow the law, but rather that salvation doesn’t come by either thing, but by grace.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Romans 5:20 - Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Romans 6:1-2 - 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
And if you take that literally it would condemn everybody who has been born in times and places where he either has had no chance to ever hear of Jesus, or Jesus has been just the name of somebody in the religion of some foreign people they never learn much about. Most people stay in the religion their family and the people around them have and taught them, does that automatically make them evil or not worthy of salvation?
And that is the main reason why I am not a member of any Christian church. I believe in God, and Jesus, but I will not believe God would be that cruel.
He tells someone in the comments that following Christian principles is enough--that he doesn't need to be a follower of Jesus.
Well, there are some Biblical grounds for that idea. In Matthew 25:31-46, the story of the sheep and goats gathered from all the nations of the world, there's a possible implication that explicit recognition of Christ is not required for salvation, but rather sincere action according to Christ's commands of love and mercy for all humanity. And earlier in Matthew 7:15-23 Christ seems to emphasize salvation is based on the fruits of one's actions, and not the claiming of His name (of which He warns that many false prophets will adopt as wolves in sheep's clothing).
Salvation is a free gift given to those who believe Jesus is the son of God and that He died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again on the third day just as He said He would. Jesus says in John 3:1-21 what is needed for salvation, specifically John 3:16. “Good works” come as a byproduct of a life transformed by God’s mercy by salvation through Jesus, but good works without belief in Jesus are “filthy rags” in the sight of God. Man will boast about his good works, but no one can boast about the gift of salvation because it’s offered to everyone who chooses to accept it. Salvation based only on works isn’t true salvation.
I see the theme of identity running through this...
Just a few chapters prior to 25, in Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus states the first and second greatest commandments are "love God" and "love others." Then, here in Matthew 25, he illustrates those two commandments. Those who love God (greatest commandment) are the sheep, and those who do not are the goats.
Likewise, Matthew 7:21 specifies "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." So, not all who claim their identity in Christ, but only the ones who are not wolves in sheep's clothing.
In either of these passages you cite, knowing Jesus is primary.
One of my favorite verses...always humbling and reminds me that it is grace alone and not works and the blood of Christ which gives us the way to Him.
I’ve taken a much more action and works based approach to faith over the last few years, but it hasn’t been to win salvation or earn it, for I myself am but dirty rags, but at no point is it said that we should not do works or follow the law, but rather that salvation doesn’t come by either thing, but by grace.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Romans 5:20 - Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Romans 6:1-2 - 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
But in context, those people were identifying with Christ, but they were trying to do it their own way, not God’s way.
Except Jesus stated that He was THE way and no one would come to the Father except through Him. John 14:6.
And if you take that literally it would condemn everybody who has been born in times and places where he either has had no chance to ever hear of Jesus, or Jesus has been just the name of somebody in the religion of some foreign people they never learn much about. Most people stay in the religion their family and the people around them have and taught them, does that automatically make them evil or not worthy of salvation?
And that is the main reason why I am not a member of any Christian church. I believe in God, and Jesus, but I will not believe God would be that cruel.
Question is: What does "follower of Jesus" mean?
That is not what he is saying.